NES Classic: 5 Alternatives for Retro Gaming Fans this Christmas

Struggling to find an NES Classic for Christmas? Read our list of alternatives you can buy now for the retro gaming lover in your life

The NES Classic is a miniaturised version of the beloved games console originally released in 1985. This time it comes with an HDMI port on the back and cable so you can easily plug it into your TV. Get sucked into an 8-Bit wonderland and play 30 classic NES games like Super Mario Bros, The Legend of Zelda, PAC-MAN, Metroid and more!

Critics have gone mad for the NES Classic, with CNET calling it ‘your childhood in a brilliant little box’. TechCrunch wrote that it’s a ‘ a love letter to Nintendo’s oldest fans’. It’s definitely a must-have for fans of retro gaming.

However, the NES Classic is proving to be a wildly popular gift this Christmas, having sold out hours after going on sale. Retailers just haven’t been able to keep up with consumer demand and Nintendo won’t be replenishing stocks until New Year. You can find a few on eBay, though at more than double the price.

If you’ve given up on trying to find one in time for Christmas then have no fear! We’ve rounded up a number of alternatives to the NES Classic for those that need their fix of retro gaming and nostalgia over the holidays. Read on and get your fix of retro gaming and nostalgia:

Sega Megadrive With 80 Built-In Games

Price: £39.99

Was: £49.99

Relive some classic video game action with the Sega Megadrive, including beloved classics like Alex Kidd, Ecco, Streets of Rage, Golden Axe, Sonic and Columns.

Comes with 80 games built-in and two, battery-operated, wireless controllers so you can get straight into the action. This console also have the added bonus of being compatible with SEGA Mega Drive cartridges.

Retron 5 9 in 1 Retro Gaming Console

Price: £160.00

The Retron 5 from Hyperkin is the ultimate retro gaming console!

This console has 5 cartridge slots allowing you to use original NES, SNES, Genesis, Famicom, and Game Boy Advance cartridges. You can also use Super Famicom, Mega Drive, Game Boy Color and Game Boy cartridges as well!

Gone are the region lock restrictions of the previous versions and you are now free to play NTSC or PAL cartridges without any trouble.

Sinclair ZX Spectrum Vega Console

Price: £78.88

Before the days of Nintendo and Super Mario, there was the Sinclair ZX Spectrum Vega.

This iteration of the classic games console improves on the original as there’s no more waiting for a game to load via tape! Just plug it into your TV’s USB port and you”re good to go! No other cables are needed.

The ZX Spectrum also comes pre-loaded with 1000 licensed games as well as a micro SD Card slot so you can legally download tens of thousands of titles from well-known retro-gaming sites.

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